El Hefe Speaks! is a traditionally brewed German-style Hefe. It is fermented around 65°F and hopped with German Tettnang hops. 11 IBUs and 5.3% ABV make this one extremely drinkable. If you think it speaks to you as well, definitely try a glass... because it will be gone before you can say "sweater weather". “We’re tremendously excited to bring this specialty brew to the District,” said DC Brau Co-Founder and CEO, Brandon Skall, “Working with other local brewers on this project has made presenting the final product even better.” The beer was brewed at DC Brau in early August. “El Hefe Speaks” uses the Weihenstephaner yeast strain, a classic, popular German wheat beer strain used worldwide.

Reviews by Hendry:

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My local, frequent in-person trader, tone77, recently dropped this off for me in his latest batch of beer in support of The CANQuest ™. I am always anxious to see what he has for me when he stops by!

From the CAN: “Limited-Release German-Style Wheat Beer”; “About ‘El Hefe Speaks’ [:] This traditionally brewed German-style wheat is our collaboration with Chris Frashier and John “Solly” Solomon, who are both well known for their delicious brewing work in the Washington DC area[.]”; “Please Recycle – Pack In, Pack Out”; “Serve in a Tulip, Goblet or Enjoy from the CAN[.]”

The CAN spoke to me in the form of a loud Crack! I decided to speak back in the form of an inverted Glug, which resulted in both a pseudo-cascade and the formation of two-plus fingers of bubbly, French Vanilla-colored head with good retention. Nose was heavy on the banana esters, filling my kitchen with a banana bread-like smell. Color was a cloudy Golden-Amber (SRM = > 5, < 7). Dense lacing began to line the glass as the head fell. Mouthfeel was medium-to-full. The taste, while quite banana-like, was also balanced by a pleasant clove spiciness. I frequently rail against hefeweizens due to their (usually) banana heavy esters when I know how to make one that could be clove-forward, which is what I prefer. This was quite good! I may never be a big fan of the style, but I do like to note when I find an example that I find drinkable.

I've been enjoying exploring DC Brau's lineup lately and picked up their hefeweizen, El Hefe Speaks. Few things go with summer as well as a nice, cold German-style wheat ale. Poured from the can into my Dogfish Head snifter.

Appearance (4/5): Huge, billowy white head. Three fingers. Reduces quickly to an eighth inch of foam. Straw colored and cloudy from the yeast, though it clears up somewhat as the beer settles and the head recedes. A good looking hefeweizen.

Smell (3.75/5): The yeast is, at first blush, a little odd smelling– somewhat like dentist's office toothpaste. It isn't a bad smell, just a tad more medicinal than I'm used to smelling in a German-style hefeweizen. Dominant notes are clove, bubble gum, and banana.

Taste (3.75/5): El Hefe Speaks is wheaty beyond belief. Each new sip brings on more wheat flavor in the foretaste. Clove is pronounced in the back. I'm slightly disappointed that there isn't much banana flavor to speak of in this hefe, but not every one of them can or should be a Weihenstephaner clone. The highly yeasty profile may turn some people off, but not me. A solid tasting beer, for certain.

Mouthfeel (4.25/5): DC Brau really nails the mouthfeel on this one. Extremely well carbonated and has just enough body, while remaining light–some domestic hefeweizens really suffer from deficiencies in both categories; not this one. It has a nice creaminess to it right from the first sip. Very drinkable and quenching, though the dominant yeastiness of the beer may cause others to feel differently.

Overall (3.75/5): El Hefe Speaks is a very solid beer and a good one for DC Brau to keep in its summer seasonal rotation. I recommend this beer to anyone that likes hefeweizens. While not as great as Weihenstephaner's take on the style, it has its own unique strong points. This is a seriously wheaty, yeasty take on the style that really is a great summer quencher.

Appearance: Pours a dense orange-ish color in the thick part of the glass with a more yellow haze in the thinner part. Cloudy. 2.5 finger frothy head with retention that just won't quite. Sudsy lacing and legs all the way down.

Poured from a 12 oz. can. Has a light golden color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of banana, some spices. Taste is refreshing, some spice, a bit of banana, some mild wheat, very easy drinking. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is a good choice on a hot night.